Switch-throwing device.



No. 687,493. Patented Nov. 26, M". C.- CARPENTER.

SWITCHTHROWING DEVICE.

(Ap plicatiun filed Apr. 13, 1901.!

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 687,493. Patented Nov. 26, I901. C. CARPENTER.

SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1901 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

CHALMER CARPENTER, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-THROWINQ DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,493, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed April 13, 1901 Serial No. 55,652. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, CHALMER CARPENTER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Throwing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference-being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switches, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with street-railway switches, the main object of the invention being to provide means for throwing the switch-point from the car.

Briefly described, my invention comprises, in connection with the pivoted switch-point, levers connected thereto and a pair of operating-rods, the one located between the rails and the other outside the rails, these rods being connected to the pivoted spring-bars, which are adapted to be engaged and actuated by mechanism supported from the cartruck. This mechanism is adapted to be actuated by the motorman from either end of the car, and in case it is not,actuated in sufficient time to engage the spring-barsto operate the switch-tongue means are provided to automatically actuate the mechanism, so as to operate the bars to move the switch-tongue, all of which construction will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numeralsof reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a part of a car, partly in section, showing the switchoperating mechanism in position on the car. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the hanger supported from the car for actuating the mechanism located in the road-bed. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of apart of the track, showing the switch mechanism arranged therein. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of this mechanism removed from the track.

In the accompanying illustration of my invention, 1 indicates the switch-tongue, which is of the usual pivoted form and carries a pin 2 near each end, that operates in a slot 3, provided therefor in the frog of the switch. The pin 2 is connected to a link 4, the one end of which is pivotally connected to the lever 5 and the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 6. These levers 5 6 carry brackets 7, which are pivotally supported on casings 8 9, located the former adjacent to the inside of the rail and the latter adjacent to the outside of the rail. The end of thelever 5 has connected thereto an operating-rod 10, provided with a turnbuckle 11 intermediate of its ends, whereby this rod may be adjusted, and has its other end connected to the lug 12, carried by the bracket l4,whicl1 is pivotally supported within the casing 15, located adjacent to the inside of the rail. This bracket lfl carries a curved spring-bar 16, the bowed face of which lies against the inner face of the rail-tread, the casing 15 having a projecting end 17, provided with a recess 18 to permit the operation of the spring-bar 16. The operating-rod 10' is connected to the lever 6 and has a turnbuckle 11 intermediate of its end, whereby this rod may be adjusted in accordance with any adjustment that may be made of the rod 10. The other end of this rod 10 is connected to a lug 12, carried by the bracket 14, which is pivotally supported within the casing 15', located outside the rail. The bracket 14' carries a curved spring-arm l6, thebowed portion of which lies adjacent to the outside face of the railtread 19. Placed on top of the casing 15,with the free end of the spring-bar 16 projecting under the same, is a plate 20, the particular function of which will be hereinafter described. The casings 8 9 15 15 are constructed so as to receive a lid or cover, which in the accompanying illustration has been removed in order to show the various parts in their operative positions.

Supported from the truck of the car is a tripping mechanism for engagement with the spring-bars 16 16 to actuate the switch mechanism. This tripping mechanism consists of a bar 21, having a shoe 22 at each end. Connected to the outer face of this bar is an inverted-T-shaped plate 23, carrying a lug 24, which lug carries rollers ,25. The stem or shank of the T-shaped plate 23 extends upwardly outside of the side bar 26 of the truckframe, and an upward extension 27 extends upwardly on the inside of said sidebar 26. A bracket 28 is carried by the side bar 26, and a bolt 29 is passed through said bracket and said extension 27 to the stem or shank of the plate 23. A keeper 30 is attached to the outer face of the side. bar 26 to limit the swinging movement of the plate 23. Attached to the upper end of this plate 23 is a substantially Z-shaped hanger 31, having an aperture neareach end. Connected to one end of this 2- shaped hanger is, a rod 32, which extends toward one end of the car and is connected by a cord, chain, or cable 33 to the foot-lever 35, extending upwardly through the platform of the car. The free end of the Z-shaped hanger 31 is connected by a rod 32 to the cord, chain, or cable 33', which is attached to the foot-lever 34 at the opposite end of the car. These cords, chains, or cables are passed over pulleys 35 36, suitably supported from the underneath face of the car-body. The rods 32 32' are passed through brackets 37, which are supported from the side bar 26, and arranged on the rods between these brackets and the Z-shaped hanger 31 are coil-springs 38.

. In operation we will assume that the car is passing along the track to the left, as shown tilting down the forward shoe 22 and causing the same to engage with the bowed portion of the spring-bar 16, actuating the rod 10', lever 6, and link 4 to throw the switch-tongue back to the closed position, allowing the car to pass onto the main track.

On cars which run from the main track to the side or curved track I dispense with.- the roller 25 and the plate 20, as these are provided merely to tilt the forward. end of the 1 plate 23 in case the motorman fails to..operate the same through the connections with the foot-lever. It will be observedthat should the motorman fail to depress the foot-lever this roller will engage the plate and cause the same to tilt downwardly at the forward. end, i

andrthus cause the shoe to engage the springbar 16 and operate the switch-point.

Attention should be called to the use of roller 25, which is only employed on cars always traveling over a certain line only, and

when this roller is employed the tripping out departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a switch-throwing mechanism, the combination of the pivoted switch-tongue,of a link connected thereto, levers having ofiset ends pivotally connected'to each end of said link, the other ends of said levers extending at an angle thereto, casings on each side of the switch point, said levers being pivotally mounted in said casings, an operating-rod carrying a turnbuckle pivotally connected to said last-named ends of the levers, a bracket 14 pivotally mounted adjacent to the inside of the rail, a ing carried by the bracket to which said operating rod is connected, a curved spring-bar carried by the upper end of said bracket, a second operating-rod pivotally connected to said last-named end of the other of said levers, a casing, a bracket pivotally mounted therein, an outwardly-extending lug carried'by the bracket to which the other end of said second-named operating-lever is connected, and a curved springbar carried by the upper end of said bracket,-

and means suspended from the car-truck for engagement with the said spring-bars to ac- :tuate the switch-point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 'in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

JOHN NoLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

